Let’s start with the sensation that took the football world by storm in 2018. That year, during the World Cup in Russia, the Naija team changed the game with a collection for all ages that set a new standard for how Nike would approach national team designs from then on. It’s worth noting that it received 3 million pre-orders, sold out, was restocked, and sold out again and again. In 2020, Nigeria picked up exactly where it left off, with a home kit that blends the traditional aesthetic of an agbada robe with a modern football design. The pattern was hand-drawn and is highly symbolic of Nigerian heritage, with nods to nobility and family.
New Nigeria jerseys
No one can deny that Nike has shifted its approach towards a much more meaningful style when it comes to designing its national team kits, and for 2020 this trend is further reinforced as the brand celebrates the unique stories and cultures of its national teams. Building on the success of the 2018 Nigeria Collection, Nike undertook in-depth cultural research and collaborated with each national association to ensure the designs truly resonated and struck a chord with every fan. From hand-drawn prints to bespoke fonts, each team’s style will be uniquely their own. Instead of a standard template, Nike’s designers had 65 options available to them for different collars, sleeves, cuffs, badge placements, and so on...
Home: Nigeria Alté
Nigeria’s home kit embodies respect for the people, pride and tradition. The home kit blends the traditional aesthetic of an agbada robe with a modern design. As mentioned, the patterns were hand-drawn, symbolising Nigerian heritage with nods to nobility and family. The Nigerian crest is positioned in the centre of the chest with a Swoosh beneath it. The players’ names and numbers incorporate the eagle’s feather into the design. ‘Naija’ appears on the inside of the shirt collar and on the back of the socks in a new typeface. Each component of the patterns, in itself, symbolises different elements of Nigerian cultural heritage. Green and white are the primary colours of the country’s flag, embodying the passion and bold pride of Nigerians in this jersey. It is also certain that this jersey will break boundaries, extending beyond football and fashion.
Away: Nigeria Onaism
The away kit is inspired by Onaism, a traditional artistic movement central to the design. Nigerian craftsmanship is reflected in the detailing of the trims. An eagle’s feather motif, creatively distorted, is repeated continuously in ascending sizes to create a visual impact. The collar features a slight V-shaped overlap with a thicker one at the back. Both the collar and the sleeves have a slight cut at the midpoint. Respect has been fundamental in creating this kit. A striking design, connected to the dark earth and the ‘seaweed’ green colour. A cultural icon for the ‘Naija’, rooted in authenticity.
Technical features: Nike jerseys
As well as the art of designing football kits, science is always at the forefront of the process. It all begins in the laboratory, where Nike collected data on over 300 footballers and their specific football movements. The design team used 4D visualisation tools to bring the product to life before creating prototypes. This process helped Nike analyse how the jerseys would behave on the body in terms of stretch, drape and fit. Using generative design, Nike then knitted kits that are 55 per cent more moisture-wicking, 13 per cent more breathable and 10 per cent more elastic than previous Nike kits. The precision-woven fabric is reinforced where needed and ventilated in heat-prone areas. Upon close inspection, the results reveal a highly intricate fabric structure, without detracting from the art of national pride when viewed from a distance.
The Nigeria x Nike collection arrives at Fútbol Emotion on Monday the 28th of September.
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